Key and lock construction



Aug. 25; 19421 0. c. LARSON KEY AND LOCK CONSTRUCTION Eilgd Dec. 18; 1940 INVENTOR Orro 6. 14/750 Patented Aug. 25, 1942 UNITED STATES NT FFECE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to what are commonly termed cylinder locks, and particularly to a key and lock structure of this type and kind; and the object of the invention is to provide a lock having horizontally disposed cylinders spaced longitudinally of the cylinder for engaging characterized sections arranged longitudinally of one side surface of a key in controlling by the insertion of the key into the cylinder the rotation of the cylinder for actuating any type or kind of lock or other mechanism depending upon the use for which the cylinder is employed; a further object being to provide a key and lock construction of the character described which may be used in conjunction with conventional tumblers disposed for engagement with a longitudinal edge portion of the key, thereby providing two independent controls of cylinder rotation; and still further, an object of my invention is to provide a cylinder lock casing having means adapting the same for use in conjunction with a multi- ,plicity of control tumblers whereby tumblers may operably engage either or both side surfaces of a key in controlling rotation of the cylinder; and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a key and lock structure of the class and for the purpose specified, which is simple in construction, efficient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan and sectional view of a key and lock made according to my invention, showing the key in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 22 of Fig.

1 with part of the construction shown in full lines.

Fig. 3 is a side View of a key adapted for use in conjunction with vertical as well as horizontal tumblers; and,

Fig. 4 is a rear view of a cylinder lock casing showing another adaptation of the invention, with part of the construction broken away and in section.

In the construction of cylinder locks, it has been a common practice to dispose the tumblers in the lock casing to engage one edge portion, usually the upper edge portion, of the key. Locks of this type and kind have been made up with many combinations, not only from the standpoint of the various configurations in the edge of the 55 key for engagement with the tumblers, but also from the standpoint of the size of the key and cross sectional contour thereof. It is the purpose of my invention to materially enlarge upon the possible combinations which can be provided so as to meet the increasingdemand for looks of this type and kind, and in rendering suchlocks more theft-proof by reason of the greater number of problems which must be solved in order to pick the lock. Basically, I accomplish this result by employing tumblers engaging characterized or configurated sections on at least .one side surface of the key; and it will be understood that this control may be used in certain simpler forms of key with a straight upper edge on the key, and

by eliminating the use of the common vertical tumblers, as well as in conjunction with keys having formed upper edges for engagement with the usual vertical tumblers. It is also within the scope of my invention to make up a lock casing structure which would be universally adaptable to the arrangement of tumblers at either sideof the key together with or independent of the vertical tumblers; and if desired, in utilizing all of the tumblers.

The present application constitutes a continuation in part .of the structure disclosed in my prior application Ser. No. 361,403, filed October 16, 1940, in which plain blocking tumblers are employed, simply to complicate the picking of the lock; in which prior application said blocking tumblers operate upon a flat surface in the key when the key is in fully inserted position.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, H3 represents the lock casing, including the front disc or flange H, the rearwardly extending cylindrical portion l2, having the upstanding or vertically disposed tumbler rib 53. At M is shown a cylinder lock mounted in the tubular or cylindrical portion [2, and with which the usual control elements are coupled in any desired manner. These have been omitted in the present illustration as they form no direct part of the present invention; and it is immaterial as to what particular use the lock is put to. In the present construction, in addition to the rib It, a supplemental horizontally disposed rib I5 is employed. This rib is provided with a predetermined number of bores l6, spaced longitudinally thereof which are adapted to register with corresponding bores H in the cylinder M. In these bores are arranged tumblers I 8 and backings l9, the latter operating upon coil springs 20, seating upon plate 2| closing the outer ends of the bores It.

The tumblers l8 extend into the key receiving slot or groove 22 of the cylinder M, the contour of which will be such as to receive the cross sectional contour of the particular key 23 employed. As these keys vary materially in contour, no specific description of the key in this respect is mentioned, aside from the fact that one side surface thereof, in the construction shown, is provided with a longitudinally projecting rib or fin 24, in which is formed a series of recesses 25 of different depths, in conjunction with which the several tumblers I8 operate in properly alining abuting surfaces 26 of the tumblers I8 and backings [9 in the cylinder M to facilitate rotation of the cylinder when the key is inserted. The inner end of the rib or fin is bevelled as seen at 21, note Fig. l, to enable the key 23, or the rib 24 thereof, to ride over the rounded inner ends of the tumblers I 8 as the key is inserted into the lock.

In order to simplify the invention, or to show one simple adaptation thereof, the usual tumblers have been omitted from the rib or web l3;

and with this type of construction, the upper edge 28 of the key will be left plain and the tumblers I8 will be the sole means of control ling the lock operation. However, it will be understood that the invention is also applicable to keys employing the usual configurated upper edge as is seen at 29 in Fig. 3 of the drawing. In thi'skey, the rib or fin 30 is identical with the rib 24 and has spaced recesses 3| similar to the recesses 25, and the bevelled outer edge 32 similar to the bevel 21 to operate in a lock otherwise of the same construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The lock is altered simply by incorporating 'in the web l3, the tumblers operatively engaging the edge 29 in controlling rotation of the lock cylinder by the key illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

At this time it will also be apparent that the particular location or formation of the tumbler controlling elements 25, 3|, on the key is immaterial. These may be located at any particular section of the key between upper and lower edges thereof and at either or both sides thereof. For example, in Fig. 4, of the drawing, I have shown a lock casing 33 wherein the cylindrical portion 34 is provided with one rib orweb 35, similar to the conventional vertical rib, and with a rib or web 36 similar to the rib or web I 5, and an opposed rib or web 31. At 38 is shown the lock cylinder, part of which has been broken away to illustrate the key aperture or channel 39 of the cylinder, the key being shown in cross section at 40. This key may be of any desired cross sectional form. However, in adapting it to one or more of the uses, the side surface as at 4| may have a characterized contour for cooperation with tumblers in the rib 36. The other side surface 42 may be characterized for receiving tumblers in the rib 31; whereas the upper edge of the key 43 may be characterized for receiving tumblers in the web 35.

In the type of lock casings illustrated, which are adapted for use primarily in connection with doors, the casings have apertured ears, one of which is shown at 44 in Fig. 2 of the drawing, and two of such ears are shown at 45 in Fig. 4. These are employed to receive the conventional mounting screws employed in locks of this type and kind of more or less standardized construction. However, as previously stated, the particular styling of the lock is immaterial as these look casings are styled to suit the different uses to which key locks of the type and kind are employed, such for example, as knob locks, ignition or switch locks, and many others.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a cylinder lock, a casing, a cylinder in said casing, said cylinder having a key channel extending the full length thereof, opposed walls of the key channel being parallel throughout the major portion of the width of the channel, one wall of said channel having a longitudinal recess adjacent one side of the channel to receive a corresponding projecting rib on a key insertable into said channel, a plurality of tumbler elements yieldably supported in said cylinder and casing, said tumbler elements registering with and being spaced longitudinally of the recessed wall of said channel, and inner ends of said elements operating in said recess and normally projecting into said channel.

OTTO C. LARSON. 

